Cylinder lock

ABSTRACT

A cylinder comprising a lock case, a detent cylinder placed within the case and in this cylinder, plate-like detents, which directly or indirectly interlock the detent cylinder with the lock case until the key has been applied to shift them into the opening position, whereupon it is possible with reference to the lock case to turn the detent cylinder, which acts upon the lock bolt; and a cover sleeve placed upon the lock case. The cover sleeve is interlocked with the detent cylinder and the key is only used to move the detent plates into the opening position, whereupon the opening or locking action of the lock is accomplished by turning the cover sleeve, either indirectly or directly clockwise or counterclockwise any number of turns.

United States Patent 1 Niilola CYLINDER LOCK [76] Inventor: Armas Kalervo Niilola,

Maasalvantie 16 B 8, 00710, Helsinki, Finland 22 Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 300,297

[52] U.S. Cl. 1. 70/216 [5 l Int. Cl. B60! 25/02 [58] Field of Search 70/365, 366, 216, 358

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 2,010,461 8/1935 Milligan 70/216 3,621,688 11/1971 Asmar et al. 70/358 Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or FirmEric H. Waters 1 Sept. 17, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A cylinder comprising a lock case, a detent cylinder placed within the case and in this cylinder, plate-like detents, which directly or indirectly interlock the detent cylinder with the lock case until the key has been applied to shift them into the opening position, whereupon it is possible with reference to the lock case to turn the detent cylinder, which acts upon the lock bolt; and a cover sleeve placed upon the lock case. The cover sleeve is interlocked with the detent cylinder and the key is only used to move the detent plates into the opening position, whereupon the opening or locking action of the lock is accomplished by turning the cover sleeve, either indirectly or directly clockwise or counterclockwise any number of turns.

10 Claims, 12 Drawingfigures CYLINDER LOCK It is an essential feature in the operation of cylinder locks the prior art that the first step is to apply the key to turn the detent plates, found within the detent cylinder, into their opening position. On further turning of the key, the detent cylinder begins to turn, and an opening member connected with it opens the lock. When, subsequently, the key is turned in the opposite direction, the key will return the detent cylinder into its initial position and, thereafter, the detent plates into their initial position, whereby the key can be withdrawn from the keyhole. The detent cylinder can be returned with the key from the opening direction only less than 360. In other words, it is one of the features of the detent plate cylinder lock that the detent plates are returned by means of the key, whereby this direction of rotation opposite to the opening direction cannot be utilized for any locking or opening operation of the lock. It is thus understood that detent plate cylinder locks the prior art are single-action locks. Since there is a need of a double action, the single action feature can be considered a major drawback of the, otherwise, excellent detent plate cylinder lock.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate this drawback. The invention is characterized in that the cover sleeve is interlocked with the detent cylinder and that the key is merely used to move the detent plates into the opening position, whereupon by direct or indirect rotation of the cover sleeve, clockwise or counterclockwise any number of turns, the opening or closing action of the lock is produced. After the lock has been opened or locked, the key is turned in the direction opposite to that by which the detent plates were moved into the opening position, whereby the detents return into their initial position and the key can be withdrawn.

It is hereby achieved that a cylinder lock according to the invention has the advantages of a Yale lock, or detent pin cylinder lock, and those of an Abloy lock, or rotary detent cylinder lock, while it is free of the drawbacks of both. An advantage of the Yale lock is unobstructed turning in either direction and its drawbacks,

again, include comparatively easy picking of the lock and comparatively small key permutations. The favorterlocked by a front plate placed in the detent cylinder, topmost upon the detent plates on the side facing the key. A design of this kind is favorable in view of manufacturing and assembly.

According to another advantageous embodiment, there is placed upon the cover sleeve an opening ring connected with it and which ring is used to rotate the detent cylinder. Most appropriately, the opening ring is able features of the Abloy lock include the difficulty of picking this lock and the great number of key permutations. Its disadvantage is the single action feature.

Another excellent feature of the cylinder lock according to the invention is that the key is not used to produce the lock bolt opening and closing action, which requires a considerable force, but it is merely used to move the detent plates into the opening position and back into the initial position. The force needed to move the detent plates is considerably less, and the key is therefore only subject to minor strain. It follows that there is also no wear or deformation of the key, which is easily encountered with the detent plate cylinder lock of previously known type.

The invention also concerns cylinder locks wherein the detent plates are rotated within the detent cylinder as well as those in which the detent plates are shifted in the direction of a chord or diameter of the circle constituting the cross-section, in the cross-sectional plane of the cylinder.

According to anadvantageous embodiment of the invention, the detent cylinder and cover sleeve are inconnected with the cover sleeve by means of a joint which permits rotation of the opening ring with reference to the cover sleeve if the opening ring is forcibly rotated while the detent plates are in the locking position. This opening ring may be shaped in accordance with current styles and with the individual application. The yielding juncture between the opening ring and the cover sleeve guards against attempts at lock-breaking. The joint may also be made such that the lock is not damaged in any way whatsoever by such attempts. On the other hand, the front plate may be connected with the cover sleeve by a juncture permitting rotaton of the cover sleeve with reference to the front plate in case the cover sleeve is forcibly turned with the detent plates in the locking position.

According to a third advantageous embodiment, the opening ring and cover sleeve and/or the cover sleeve and front plate are mutually connected by a springloaded key. Excessive force applied to the opening ring causes the key to come out of its groove, permitting free rotation of the opening ring. The lock is once more completely operable as soon as the opening ring has been turned so as to make the spring-loaded'key reenter its groove.

According to the advantageous embodiment, projections facilitating the turning operation have been attached to the front part of the lock. The projections may be shaped so as to make the operation of opening, or closing, the look a natural continuation of the movement by which, using the key, the detent plates are moved into the opening position. This may be done, according to an advantageous embodiment, so that the projections consist of two ridges on either side of the keyhole and together with the key forming a continuous ridge after the key has been turned to bring the detent plates into the opening position. In practice, according to an advantageous embodiment, such arrangements can be made that the projections have been attached to the opening ring. According to a further embodiment, it is also possible to attach the projections to the front part of the cover sleeve.

The invention is described hereafter, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly in section of a cylinder lock according to the invention, rotatable detent plates,

FIG. 2 shows the lock of FIG. I, viewed from the keyhole end,

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, with the detent plates in their initial position, in which the key can be withdrawn from the lock,

FIG. 4 shows the section of FIG. 3 with the detent plates turned by the key into the opening position,

FIG. 5 shows the section of FIG. 3, when the opening ring has been turned 45 clockwise,

FIG. 6 is a cross-section which shows a cylinder lock according to the invention, provided with detent plates movable in the cross-sectional plane of the detent cylinder, and with the detent plates in their initial position,

FIG. 7 shows the section of FIG. 6 with the detent plates moved by the key into the opening position,

FIG. 8 shows the section of FIG. 6, when the opening ring has been turned 45 clockwise,

FIG. 9 shows, viewed from the keyhole end, a cylinder lock according to the invention wherein attached to the opening ring are projections facilitating the turning operation, with the key inserted in the keyhole,

FIG. 10 shows the lock of FIG. 9, viewed from above,

FIG. 11 shows the lock of FIG. 9, when the key has been used to turn the detent plates into the opening position, and

FIG. 12 shows the case of FIG. 11, viewed from above.

In the lock illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 5, the detent cylinder 2 is joined with the cover sleeve by means of the front plate 6. A sector part 11 of the front plate 6 tits into an aperture in the detent cylinder 2 and the key part 12, into a groove in the front wall of the cover sleeve 5. Upon the cover sleeve 5 the opening ring 7 is placed, by the aid of which the detent cylinder is turned. The cover sleeve 5 and opening ring 7 are coupled to turn together, by means of a spring-loaded key 8 placed in the opening ring and a corresponding slot in the cover sleeve 5. The walls of the slot and the key are bevelled so that when the lock is locked, forceful turning of the opening ring causes the key 8 to rise out of its slot, thuspermitting free rotation of the opening ring 7. In the course of further rotation of the opening ring, the key 8 will eventually re-enter its slot, and the lock is operable once more.

The initial steps in the operation of the lock are similar to those in detent plate cylinder locks of the prior art. When the key 4 is inserted in the keyhole, the detent plates 3 are in their initial position in accordance with FIG. 3. The detent cylinder 2 is interlocked with the lock case 1 by the detent bar 13. And because the detent cylinder 2, cover sleeve 5 and opening ring 7 are coupled together, the lock cannot open. The key 4 is used to turn the detent plates 3 clcokwise through about 90 degrees into the opening position shown in FIG. 4. This brings the gaps on the detent plates into register with the detent bar 13. Hereafter, deviating from what is done with cylinder locks of prior art, the turning is not continued by the key 4, but by the opening ring 7. The bevelled walls of the groove in the lock case force the detent bar 13 into the gaps of the detent plates 3, regardless of the direction in which the opening ring 7 is turned. In FIG. 5, the opening ring has been turned 45 clockwise. After the desired lock action has been carried out, the detent bar 13 is once more opposite the groove in the lock case 1. It is possible to indicate this fixed point, e.g., by means of a spring-loaded ball 14 and a depression in the opening ring 7. At least one of the detent plates 3 has an oblique gap 16, which when the key is turned counterclockwise lifts the detent bar 13 into the bevelled slot 17 in the lock case and permits the detents to be turned into the initial position, whereby the key may than be withdrawn.

In a particular embodiment, the lock case may have a plurality of oblique-walled grooves 17 for the detent bar 13, the detent cylinder being lockable in register with each of them, similarly as has been described above for one single groove.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show another detent plate cylinder lock, wherein the detent plates 3 move at right angles to the axis of the detent cylinder 2. According to the invention, the detent cylinder 2 and the cover sleeve 5 are joined together to turn simultaneously. The operation of the lock is nearly identical with that already described in the foregoing. The sole difference is that the detent plates 3 interlock with the lock case directly by their key parts 15 without any intermediate detent bar.

The lock shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 is the same as that in FIGS. 1 to 5 in all respects except for the opening ring 7, on which projections 9 and 10 facilitating its turning have been shaped.

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that different embodiments of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims set forth below. For instance, the invention may be applied in cylinder locks of variable types. The safety and series arrangement systems associated with the locks may vary. It is possible, for instance, to use a plurality of detent bars, and the detent plates may have a plurality of so-called fake gaps in order to counteract lock-picking.

I claim:

1. A cylinder lock comprising a lock case, a detent cylinder tumably mounted within said lock case, platelike detents displaceably mounted within said cylinder for movement between a locking position in which the detent cylinder is interlocked with the lock case and an opening position in which the detent cylinder is freed from the lock case, a cover sleeve turnably mounted on said lock case, means interlocking said cover sleeve with said detent cylinder, said plate-like detents having key-hole openings in which a key can be inserted and turned to move said detents to said opening position in which said detent cylinder is freed from its connection with the lock case, said cover sleeve then being turnable to turn said detent cylinder and thereby open the lock by displacement of a lock bolt thereof.

2. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein said means interlocking the detent cylinder and the cover sleeve comprises a front plate secured in the detent cylinder on the detent plates on the side facing the key.

3. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 comprising an opening ring mounted on said cover sleeve and attached to said cover sleeve.

4. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 comprising a joint attaching said opening ring to the cover sleeve which permits rotation of the opening ring with respect to the cover sleeve if the opening ring is forcibly turned while the detent plates are in the locking position.

5. A cylinder lock according to claim 2 wherein said means interlocking the detent cylinder and the cover sleeve further comprises a joint attaching the front plate to the cover sleeve permitting rotation of the cover sleeve with respect to the front plate if the cover sleeve is forcibly turned while the detent plates are in the locking position.

6. A cylinder lock according to claim 4 wherein said joint between the opening ring and the cover sleeve comprises a spring-loaded key.

7. A cylinder lock according to claim 5 wherein said joint between the cover sleeve and the front plate com prises a spring-loaded key.

8. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 comprising projection means for turning said cover sleeve to open the lock.

3,835,677 6 9. A cylinder lock according to claim 8 wherein said are in said opening position. projection means comprises projections disposed on 10. A cylinder lock according to claim 9 wherein said either side of the key-hole openings and aligned with projections are attached to said opening ring. the key when the key has been turned and the detents 

1. A cylinder lock comprising a lock case, a detent cylinder turnably mounted within said lock case, plate-like detents displaceably mounted within said cylinder for movement between a locking position in which the detent cylinder is interlocked with the lock case and an opening position in which the detent cylinder is freed from the lock case, a cover sleeve turnably mounted on said lock case, means interlocking said cover sleeve with said detent cylinder, said plate-like detents having keyhole openings in which a key can be inserted and turned to move said detents to said opening position in which said detent cylinder is freed from its connection with the lock case, said cover sleeve then being turnable to turn said detent cylinder and thereby open the lock by displacement of a lock bolt thereof.
 2. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein said means interlocking the detent cylinder and the cover sleeve comprises a front plate secured in the detent cylinder on the detent plates on the side facing the key.
 3. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 comprising an opening ring mounted on said cover sleeve and attached to said cover sleeve.
 4. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 comprising a joint attaching said opening ring to the cover sleeve which permits rotation of the opening ring with respect to the cover sleeve if the opening ring is forcibly turned while the detent plates are in the locking position.
 5. A cylinder lock according to claim 2 wherein said means interlocking the detent cylinder and the cover sleeve further comprises a joint attaching the front plate to the cover sleeve permitting rotation of the cover sleeve with respect to the front plate if the cover sleeve is forcibly turned while the detent plates are in the locking position.
 6. A cylinder lock according to claim 4 wherein said joint between the opening ring and the cover sleeve comprises a spring-loaded key.
 7. A cylinder lock according to claim 5 wherein said joint between the cover sleeve and the front plate comprises a spring-loaded key.
 8. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 comprising projection means for turning said cover sleeve to open the lock.
 9. A cylinder lock according to claim 8 wherein said projection means comprises projections disposed on either side of the key-hole openings and aligned with the key when the key has been turned and the detents are in said opening position.
 10. A cylinder lock according to claim 9 wherein said projections are attached to said opening ring. 